Agenda and minutes

(if any)

An apology for lateness was submitted on behalf of Councillor Lister.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgement of the public interest.

Councillor Hillman in respect of item 12 – Tottenham Hale CPZ and Stoneleigh Road Stop and Shop – Report on Consultation (see Minute TEX 138 below).

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 22 November 2005.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2005 be approved and signed.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

Woodside Avenue Residents Association

We received a deputation from the Woodside Avenue Residents Association, the spokesperson of whom, Alan Perelman, addressed our meeting and expressed support for the traffic calming measures proposed in the immediate vicinity of the school as set out in the report on St. James C. of E Primary School – Safer Routes to School - Consultation.  However, concern was felt about some of the other proposals in particular –

·        The need for a coherent approach to traffic calming proposals in the roads affected;

·        The necessity for a mini roundabout and whether a raised speed table would be a better option;

·        Whether the proposed zebra crossing should be upgraded to a pelican crossing

·         Whether traffic islands proposed could be combined

·        Whether the poor visibility at the junction of Woodside Avenue with the Great North Road might be improved by the introduction of double yellow lines there

·        That the proposed statutory consultation should be delayed until after the Christmas holiday period.

Having answered questions put to him by Members the deputation withdrew. Our Chair thanked the deputation for their attendance and indicated that the representations they had made would be considered as part of our deliberations on this matter (see Minute TEX 138 below).

Woodside Avenue Residents Association Traffic Committee

We received a deputation from the Woodside Avenue Residents Association Traffic Committee, the spokesperson of whom, Danny Sansom, addressed our meeting and expressed support for the totality of the traffic calming measures proposed in the immediate vicinity of the school as set out in the report on St. James C. of E Primary School – Safer Routes to School – Consultation for which he and others had been campaigning for some time. He emphasised the need for the 20 m.p.h. speed limit to be self-enforcing and with regard to concerns expressed about road narrowing proposals he pointed out that when such restrictions had been in force recently following a burst water main traffic congestion had not followed.

He expressed the view that the proposals were designed to produce a safe route to school and he asked that the measures be introduced in their totality.

 Having answered questions put to the by Members the deputation withdrew. Our Chair thanked the deputation for their attendance and indicated that the representations they had made would be considered as part of our deliberations on this matter (see Minute TEX 138 below).

(Joint Report of the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance – To be introduced by the Executive Member for Finance): To set out an exception report on the finance and performance monitoring for October 2005.

(Joint Report of the Interim Chief Executive and the Director of Finance – Agenda Item 7):

RESOLVED:

1.      That the report be noted.

2.      That the virements set out in section 11 of the interleaved report be approved.

(Report of the Director of Finance - To be introduced by the Executive Member for Finance): To consider the draft revenue grant settlement on the financial strategy. FAILED TO MEET DESPATCH DATE

(Report of the Director of Finance – Agenda Item 8)

Our Chair agreed to accept the report as urgent business. The report was late because the draft local government finance settlement was not received until 5 December 2005. The report was too urgent to await the next meeting because of the need to make a number of budget variations which now needed to be reflected in the Council’s plans.

RESOLVED:

1. That the draft local government settlement be noted.

2. That approval be granted to the proposed budget changes and variations detailed in the interleaved report.

3. That the overall resource shortfall, prior to the Executive’s final budget package, be noted.

4. That the issues in respect of Council Tax, the Children’s Services budget, the Housing Revenue Account budget and the capital programme be noted.

5. That approval be granted to additional funding of £450,000 for the capital commitment in respect of Suffolk Road estate as set out in paragraph 14.4 of the interleaved report.

(Report of the Director of Environment - To be introduced by the Executive Member for Environment and Conservation): To summarise feedback from the consultation process (non statutory) carried out in September 2005 for the introduction of traffic calming measures along Woodside Avenue and to seek approval to proceed to statutory consultation on proposals to introduce traffic calming.

(Report of the Director of Environmental Services – Agenda Item 9):

We noted that the Government had set targets for every school to have a School Travel Plan (STP) by 2010 and that the Mayor for London had set additional targets for every school in London to have a STP by 2009.

We were informed that in addition to the representations made to us earlier by the two deputations a detailed written submission had also been received.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the feedback of the consultation process (non-statutory) and in particular the objections received be noted.

2.      That approval be granted to proceed to statutory consultation on proposals to introduce traffic calming measures along Woodside Avenue, between Muswell Hill Road and the eastern arms of Lanchester Road/Fordington Road, as set out in paragraph 10.8 of the interleaved report.

3.      That the final decision whether or not to proceed with the proposals noted in 2. above be made by the Director of Environmental Services in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment and Conservation in the event of objections arising from the statutory consultation.

4.      That no action be taken with regard to the proposals relating to  Woodside Avenue, between its junctions with Lanchester Road and Fordington Road but that further consultation be conducted with residents for alternative  traffic calming measures along Woodside Avenue.

5.      That residents be informed of the Council’s decision and programme of works on site.

(Report of the Director of Environment - To be introduced by the Executive Member for Environment and Conservation): To summarise feedback from the consultation (non statutory) process held in October/November 2005 for the extension of the Tottenham Hale CPZ and the introduction of stop and shop parking along Stoneleigh Road.

(Report of the Director of Environmental Services – Agenda Item 10):

Councillor Hillman declared an interest in this matter by virtue of being a Tottenham Hale Ward Councillor.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the feedback of non-statutory consultation for the proposed extension of the Tottenham Hale CPZ, as set out in the interleaved report be noted.

2.      That the feedback of consultation (non-statutory) for the possible introduction of pay and display parking along Stoneleigh Road, as set out in the interleaved report be noted.

3.      That Council officers be authorised to proceed to Statutory Consultation for the introduction of the Tottenham Hale CPZ extension operational between 8:30am - 6:30pm Monday to Friday, in Buller Road, Burbridge Way, Carew Road, Dowsett Road, Kimberley Road, Ladysmith Road, Mafeking Road and Reed Road.

4.      That Council officers be authorized to proceed to Statutory Consultation for the introduction of pay and display parking bays along Stoneleigh Road, with operational hours of 8:30am - 6:30pm Monday to Friday.

5.      That the section of Park View Road north of the Council depot be omitted from the proposed CPZ extension.

6.      That residents be informed of the forgoing decisions.

(Report of the Director of Environmental Services - To be introduced by the Executive Member for Environment and Conservation): To report to Members on the feedback received during consultation on the draft Sports and Physical Activity Strategy and Action plan and the changes proposed to the Strategy and Action Plan following this consultation.

(Report of the Director of Environmental Services – Agenda Item 11):

RESOLVED:

That approval be granted to the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy and Action Plan as the basis of the Council’s future approach for provision of these services to 2010.

(Report of the Director of Environmental Services - To be introduced by the Executive Member for Enterprise and Regeneration): To consider and recommend the Council’s response to the alterations.

(Report of the Director of Environmental Services – Agenda Item 12):

RESOLVED:

That the responses to the draft alterations to the London Plan as set out in Appendix 1 to the interleaved report be approved and submitted to the Mayor of London.

(Report of the Director of Environmental Services - To be introduced by the Executive Member for Enterprise and Regeneration): To consider and agree the responses to the Inspector’s Report and propose modifications for public consultation. FAILED TO MEET DESPATCH DATE

(Agenda Item 13):

We noted that this item had been withdrawn.

(Report of the Director of Housing – To be introduced by the Executive Member for Housing): To provide an overview for the bid for ALMO funding and the application to the Government to set up the ALMO (Section 27).

(Report of the Director of Housing – Agenda Item 14):

RESOLVED:

1. That the progress made towards establishing a successful ALMO and obtaining the necessary funding to achieve the Decent Homes Standard by 2010 be noted.

2. That approval be granted in principle to the variations from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister template Management Agreement as set out at Attachment 1 of the interleaved report.

3. That approval be granted in principle to the division of functions between the Council and the ALMO as updated at Attachment 2 of the interleaved report.

4. That approval be granted in principle to the draft Building Costs Model which indicated a bid of £206.1million, subject to further detailed refinement by Officers.

5. That approval be granted in principle to arrangements being made for the effective financial management of the ALMO and the financial arrangements between the Council and the ALMO as summarised in the draft Schedule 6 to the Management Agreement and set out at Attachment 4 to the interleaved report.

6. That the process for approving the draft first year Delivery Plan for the ALMO be noted.

7. That the progress made towards the effective transfer of around 700 staff to the ALMO under the TUPE regulations and the proposals being made for the ALMO to adopt the Council’s core human resource policies and to enter into a trades union recognition agreement be noted.

8. That approval be granted in principle to the draft Memorandum and Articles of Association for the ALMO as set out in Attachments 5 and 6 to the interleaved report.

9. That that the outcome on the consultation for the ALMO which resulted in a clear preference for ‘Homes for Haringey’ be noted.

10. That it be noted that appointments had been made to all but one of the Shadow Board places and that the Shadow Board had been meeting since October 2005 to undertake training and development and to make arrangements for the effective transfer of staff and responsibilities on 1 April 2006.

11. That the outline bid for inclusion in the ALMO Programme Round 6 and the outline application for consent to delegate housing management under Section 27 of the Housing Act 1985 (as amended) be noted.

12. That approval be granted in principle to the decisions above in relation to the suite of ALMO documents which would be subject to further detailed discussions involving the ALMO Transition Member Working Group and the Shadow Board and to final approval of the relevant documents for submission to the ODPM being delegated to the Director of Finance and the Director of Housing in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing.

(Report of the Director of Housing – To be introduced by the Executive Member for Housing): To update the Housing Strategy to take account of the strategic/operational split (ALMO) and to ensure currency of data, relevancy of targets and action plan and accessibility of the strategy to internal and external stakeholders.

(Report of the Director of Housing – Agenda Item 15):

RESOLVED:

That the Council be recommended to approve the updated Housing Strategy as set out in the interleaved report.

(Report of the Director of Housing – To be introduced by the Executive Member for Housing): To provide members with the background to and overview of the work carried out in connection with demonstrating value for money for the Housing Repairs Service.

(Report of the Director of Housing – Agenda Item 16):

Arising from our consideration of the report, we asked that officers advise of the timeframe for the proposed market testing.

RESOLVED:

1. That the repairs service be subjected to market testing as soon as possible.

2. That the market test should include a bid from the in house team.

3. That the whole end to end service be subjected to market testing, including repairs reporting and vehicle provision.

4. That the works function subjected to market testing be restricted to general building repairs, excluding gas maintenance, door entry maintenance, TV aerials, lifts and other miscellaneous mechanical and electrical works

(Report of the Director of the Children’s Service – To be introduced by the Executive Member for Children and Young People): To recommend that the Executive approve consultation on the arrangement for admissions to community primary and secondary schools and St. Aidan’s Voluntary Controlled School for the 2007/08 school year.

(Report of the Director of the Children’s Service – Agenda Item 17):

RESOLVED:

That approval be granted to the proposed consultation on admission arrangements for all community primary and secondary schools and St Aidan’s Voluntary Controlled Primary School as detailed in the interleaved reports and the Appendices thereto.

(Report of the Director of the Children’s Service – To be introduced by the Executive Member for Children and Young People): To report on the outcome of the Annual Performance Assessment (APA) for the Children’s Service.

(Report of the Director of the Children’s Service – Agenda Item 18):

We noted that the report outlined the good progress made in the Children's Service and indicated areas for improvement which had already been given appropriate attention and would be included in the Children and Young People's Plan 2006-9. 

We were pleased to note that our Children’s Service had achieved a grading of 3 (out of 4) which compared very well with services across both London and the country as a whole and we asked that our thanks be placed on record to all those who had contributed to this grading.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and the areas for improvement identified be incorporated into the Children and Young People's Plan with progress reported through the agreed monitoring arrangements twice each year.

(Report of the Director of Social Services – To be presented by the Executive Member for Health and Social Services): To report on the Commission for Social Care Inspection’s Annual Review of Social Services and to inform the Executive of the contents of the Annual Review Letter.

(Report of the Director of Social Services – Agenda Item 19):

We noted that the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) Record of Performance Assessment for Adult Social Care was an annual review of Social Service Performance and that there was a requirement for the Annual Review Meeting letter to be presented to an open Executive meeting of the Council.  We also noted that CSCI's independent judgements of performance across all Social Services rated the service on a scale of zero to three stars and that the ratings aimed to improve public information about the current performance of services and the capacity for improvement.

We were pleased to note that our Social Services had achieved a rating of 2 (out of 3) and we asked that our thanks be placed on record to all those who had contributed to achieving this rating.

RESOLVED:

1. That the significant improvement to Haringey Social Services following the award of two stars by the Commission for Social Care Inspection be noted.

2. That the annual review monitoring letter for 2004/5 be noted.

(Report of the Director of Social Services – To be presented by the Executive Member for Health and Social Services): To inform the Executive of this tear’s Star Rating results and to highlight some of the achievements of the Social Services Directorate.

(Report of the Director of Social Services – Agenda Item 20):

We noted that the results for 2005 showed that Haringey had continued improving the services that it provided and had now achieved a two-star rating. This was an excellent result for Social Services and once again showed a year-on-year improvement. Only half of London Councils and 49% of Councils nationally which had a one-star rating in 2004 had moved up to a two-star rating in 2005.

We also noted that Haringey was now above the average outer London star rating of 1.84 stars and the average national star rating of 1.92 stars. This level of improvement with regards to our star rating result over just three years was exceptional at both a London and national level.  Across all Councils which were in the same position as Haringey in 2002, the average 2005 star rating was only 1.58 stars. It had also taken place in context of the Laming Review, generally difficult circumstances in terms of service, and significant budget issues.

We were pleased to note that our Social Services had achieved a rating of 2 (out of 3) and we asked that our thanks be placed on record to all those who had contributed to achieving this rating including former Social Services staff now working in the Children’s Service.

RESOLVED:

That the key achievements highlighted in the interleaved report be noted.

(Report of the Director of Social Services – To be presented by the Executive Member for Health and Social Services): To advise the executive of amendments made to the Mental Health Strategy as a result of consultations that have taken place and to seek approval to and endorsement of the new joint Mental Health Strategy.

(Report of the Director of Social Services – Agenda Item 21):

RESOLVED:

1.      That the amendments made to the Mental Health Strategy be approved and the new joint Mental Health Strategy as set out at Appendix 1 to the interleaved report be endorsed.

2.      That the first report on progress of the Strategy be received in June 2006 with reports presented quarterly thereafter.

(Report of the Director of Social Services – To be presented by the Executive Member for Health and Social Services): To seek approval from Members to agree the strategy known as ‘ Communication Strategy – Adults with Learning Disability’.

(Report of the Director of Social Services – Agenda Item 22):

RESOLVED:

That approval be granted to the adoption of the strategy known as ‘Communication Strategy – Adults with Learning Disabilities’ and attached as Appendix 1 to the interleaved report for all services, and that it form part of the Council’s Corporate Communications Strategy.

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive – To be introduced by the Executive Member for Community Involvement): To consider proposals to roll out a universal borough wide Neighbourhood Management Service aligned with the area assemblies geographical areas and the service structure necessary to implement these proposals.

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Access) – Agenda item 23):

With the consent of our Chair UNISON comments on the proposals together with the Management response to those comments were tabled.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the issues facing the Neighbourhood Management Service, as outlined in the interleaved report be noted.

2.      That approval be granted to a reconfiguration of Neighbourhood Management Services along the lines of the model proposed with the Area Assemblies as the overarching body/forum for the community to which the Neighbourhood Partnership reported and at which both local and wider issues could be discussed and actions reported.

3. That approval be granted to each area assembly core team being headed by a Neighbourhood Manager and to the totality of the number of staff employed across the service but that further discussions take place about the deployment of posts as between the teams.

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Access) – To be introduced by the Executive Member for Organisational Development and Performance Management): To update on the current position for implementing electronic government.

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Access) – Agenda Item 24):

RESOLVED:

That the IEG 5 return as set out as an Appendix to the interleaved report be approved for submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

(Report of the Interim Chief Executive): To inform the Executive of urgent actions taken by Directors in consultation with the Leader or Executive Members.

(Report of the Interim Chief Executive – Agenda Item 25):

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and any necessary action approved.

a)     Voluntary Sector Grants Committee – 8 November 2005

b)     Children’s Services Advisory Committee – 28 November 2005

c)      Libraries Advisory Committee – 29 November 2005  

(Agenda Item 26):

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the following bodies be noted and any necessary action approved –

• Voluntary Sector Grants Committee – 8 November 2005
• Children’s Services Advisory Committee – 28 November 2005
• Libraries Advisory Committee – 29 November 2005

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Access) – To be introduced by the Executive Member for Organisational Development and Performance Management): To set out options for IS/IT Infrastructure. FAILED TO MEET DESPATCH DATE

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Access) – Agenda Item 30):

Our Chair agreed to accept the report as urgent business. The report was late because the dialogue with the current infrastructure supplier had continued until 19 December and because the implications of the fire at Hemel Hempstead adjacent to the offices of the current supplier had to be assessed. The report was too urgent to await the next meeting because the negotiations with the current infrastructure provider had reached a position where, unexpectedly, a Member decision was required and a delay in the decision would cause the Council to incur additional costs.

This item was the subject of a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as it contained exempt information relating to terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods and services.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the report be noted and the recommendations as set out be approved.

2.      That Option 2(b) for IS/IT infrastructure support as set out in paragraph 8.1 of the interleaved report  be approved.